Ex-monk to file more charges

CEBU, Philippines - The ex-monk who sued Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and five others of libel will file another set of criminal charges against his two former colleagues who had earlier sued him for estafa and acts of lasciviousness.

Venancio Cabillon is already readying his countercharges while also preparing for counter affidavit for the charges that he is facing before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Dr. Edwin Fonghe, who is in custody of Cabillon, said that they are already readying their answer to the charges and in fact, they have already gathered persons from Leyte who will testify that the accusations against Cabillon are not true.

But according to Fonghe, they have not yet received a subpoena from the prosecutor handling the case.

Cabillon said that the accusations against him were not true and that they were all only made up to counter the libel charges that he filed recently.

Abelio Mangila, Prior Superior of the Marian Monk Eucharistic Adoration shrine in Lindogon, Simala, Sibonga, filed the complaint for estafa against Cabillon before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. Another Marian monk, who claimed to have been sexually molested twice by Cabillon, also filed acts of lasciviousness against the latter.The 26-year-old monk, whose name is withheld by The FREEMAN, claimed he was sexually molested by Cabillon on December 31, 2008 inside the Marian Monks Monastery, where he was assigned to ring the bell at midnight.

But while waiting for midnight, the complainant said he fell asleep and to his surprise he was awakened by Cabillon’s groaning, who, he alleged, was touching his sex organ. He added he immediately stood up and pushed Cabillon away.

The complainant claimed it was the second time that Cabillon did it to him. He said that his first meeting with Cabillon was in a monastery in Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga while he was yet an aspirant. Cabillon was his Novice Master.

According to the complainant, Cabillon also sexually molested him during that time but he did not have the courage to report it to his superior. The alleged sexual advances happened in November 2000.

The complainant said he started to avoid Cabillon until he was transferred to Sibonga in 2002. Four years later, Cabillon was also transferred to Sibonga.

The complainant said he tried his very best to avoid Cabillon until that December 31, 2008 incident wherein the latter took advantage while he was asleep.

On the other hand, Mangila charged Cabillon of estafa for allegedly misappropriating more than P500,000 worth of cash and assorted items donations for the Monastery of Our Lady in Hilongos, Leyte.

Mangila, who is known by his religious name as Frater Martin Mary, said that he entrusted P557,053.50 worth of assorted items and cash donations for their sister monastery in Leyte to Cabillon.

According to Mangila, Cabillon requested for transfer to Leyte after he was allegedly investigated by the MMEA council for violation of his vows of chastity and obedience.

Mangila said he took the opportunity to send donations to their sister monastery in Leyte by asking Cabillon to bring it since he was going there.

On January 9, Mangila said, Cabillon left for Leyte with P200,000 cash and several items such as monstrance and tabernacle, priests stole, gold necklace for the Virgin Mary, camera, karaoke and chairs.

The complainant said he was assuming that the items were delivered to the monastery in Leyte, but the prior superior of the monastery in Leyte, Frater Francis Mary, later denied receiving the items.

Mangila said they were surprised that Cabillon was seen in Labangon asking solicitation few days after he supposedly left for Leyte.

Cabillon earlier filed a libel suit against Mangila, Vidal, Msgr. Cristobal Garcia and Father Marnell Mejia over an alleged defamatory notice to the public printed at the Archdiocesan newsletter, Bag-ong Lungsoranon. —Jasmin R. Uy/WAB  (THE FREEMAN)